Angeles National Forest, north of Los Angeles, California

Falls below the main Switzer Falls (2830').

The gradient on this 0.6 mile segment was about 350 fpm.

Confluence with Bear Creek (2600')

The flow this day (2.4 on the USGS Arroyo Seco gage) was too low to do the run to JPL, so we opted to run the outrageous tiered drop below Switzer Falls and probe the stream down to Bear Creek. The first drop, La Niña, is a slide into about a 7-8 ft. vertical drop with problems caused by a headwall. The second drop, El Niño, is a 20 ft., or so, waterfall. The total vertical on the two drops is about 35 ft.

This is the second of three segments we paddled on Arroyo Seco. The other two are:

• Arroyo Seco, Switzer Picnic Area to Switzer Camp
• Arroyo Seco, Bear Creek Trail crossing to JPL

Related information:

• Los Angeles County Rainfall
• CNRFC Southern California Rainfall
• Tri-County 12 hr. Rainfall (VCWPD)
• COE LATS Telemetry
• Historical photographs of Switzers and Arroyo Seco

© 1996-2023 by Gary Valle' and Gary Gunder
(To enlarge an image, click on it. )

Overview of the double falls below Switzer Falls, with Gary Gunder running the top drop (La Niña).

Gary Gunder on the second drop of the double falls (El Niño) below Switzer Falls.

Gary Valle on the second drop of the double falls (El Niño) below Switzer Falls.

Pool below the second drop (El Niño) of the double falls below Switzer Falls.